Control system for water treatment apparatus



March 4, 1958 P. G. BIRD 2,825,363

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 2e. 1952 March 4, 1958 P. G. BIRD 2,825,363

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS l Filed Dec. 26. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. G. BIRD March 4, A195s 4 Sh'ee-ts-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 26. 1952 March 4, 1958 P. G. BIRD 2,825,363

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS Filed Dec. 26, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 'if' CONTRQL SYSTEM FR WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS Paul G. Bird, Rockford, lll., assignor to Aquamatic Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application December 26, 1952, Serial No. 328,108

15 Claims. (Ci. IS7-627.5)

This invention relates to control apparatus for iluid treatment systems, and in particular to control apparatus .for water softeners, deionizers, lters and the like.

it is an object of this invention to provide novel and improved control apparatus for iluid treatment systems.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel controi apparatus for water treatment systems which is capable of handling greater flow rates and with a minimum of water pressure loss in the control apparatus for a given size of the control apparatus.

lt is also an object of this invention to provide control apparatus for fluid treatment systems which includes a valve or' novel construction in which the passages of the valve are required to pass only one flow each during a complete cycle of operation of the control apparatus, thereby enabling each of these ports to be designed for optimum tio-w characteristics for the particular flow which it is required to pass.

Also, an object of this invention is to provide control apparatus for a iluid treatment system which includes a control valve for controlling flow through the treatment system and a service line valve controlled by the control valve to prevent the ow of iluid from the treatment system to service while the treatment system is being regenerated.

Another object of this invention is to provide control apparatus for a fluid treatment system which includes a lift turn valve for controlling the various ows through the system in diierent settings of the distributor in the lift turn valve and a service valve for controlling the ilow of duid from the system to a service outlet and arranged to be closed responsive to the lift turn valve while the treatment system is being regenerated and while the distributor in the lift turn valve is unseated.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a valve of novel construction which enables optimum ow characteristics through the valve in all of its operative positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a valve of the type having a face member provided with a plurality of passages and a distributor mounted to be positioned in confronting relation with the face and to be turned between preselected rotative settings for establishing different Hows through the valve, wherein the valve is of novel construction such that each passage at the face member is required to pass only one flow for a complete cycle of angular settings of the distributor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lift turn valve provided with a novel drain valve of simplified and space saving construction.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is shown in the accompanying drawings to illustrate the construction and principles of operation of the invention.

i ln the drawings:

Figure l discloses the control apparatus of the present 2,825,363 Patented Mar. 4, 1958 invention embodied in a water softening or deionizing system;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the hft turn valve forming part of the Fig. 1 control apparatus, the section being taken along the line 2--2 in Fig. 5 and showing the valve in the normal service position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the Fig. 2 vaive, showing the cam arrangement for turning the distributor of the valve;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4--4 in Fig. 2, showing the top of the distributor of the valve;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2, showing the body face;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section through the control valve, taken along the line 6--6 in Fig. 5; and

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the service valve of the Fig. l apparatus.

The control apparatus of the present invention includes a control valve of the lift turn type which have in the past largely been used to control the liquid flows in base exchange water treatment apparatus, such as softeners and iilters. This valve includes a body indicated generally by the numeral S having an annular top ange 9, it being understood that terms such as top and bottom as used herein are intended to be relative and refer only to the positions as shown in the drawings. A distributor housing 11, likewise having an annular bottom llange i2 is secured to the top of the body by means of spaced bolts 13 passing through the flanges and through a seaiing gasket interposed between the anges. The housing 1i also has a top ange 14 to which a cover t5 is attached by means of a cover flange 16, the annular outer edge i7 of a diaphragm 1S being interposed between the ilanges 14 and 16 and secured in lluid tight relation thereto by annularly spaced bolts 19. The cover 15 carries a centrally disposed cam mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 2l which will presently be described in more detail.

Referring now to the structural details of the body 8 shown in Figure 2, the body has a hat plate-like member 22, in this instance of circular configuration inasmuch as the illustrated embodiment of the valve is of generally circular cross-sectional shape. As will be seen from Figure 2, the ange 9 is a continuation of the plate member 22. The body also includes concentric tubular. body walls 23 and 24 extending downwardly from the plate member 22, the outer walls 23 converging inwardly,

in spaced relation to the plate member 22, as shown at 25, and merging with the wall 24. The lower end of the tubular wall 2e carries a conventional pipe ange 26 for connection to a drain pipe 120. Pipe connections 27 and 28 are provided through the wall 23 in the form of nipples, integral with the wall 23, carrying conventional pipe anges 29 and 3l for connection respectively to conduits leading to the top and bottom of a conventional base exchange softener tank, as dscribed in greater detail hereinafter. The space between the walls 23 and 24 is divided into two separate chambers 32 and 33 by longitudinally disposed inmperforate walls 34 and 35, the pipe connections 27 and 28 each communicating with one of the chambers.

The inner plate member 22 is provided, in this embodiment, with four annularly spaced pairs of passages, with each passage of each pair being blocked from communication in the body with the other passage of the same pair. As best seen in Fig. 5, the first pair of passages consists of the passage 37 leading down into the chamber 32 in the body and the passage formed by the open upper end of a pipe 32a extending through the chamber 32 in the body. Obviously, the pipe 32a separates the passages of this first pair from iiuid communication in the body Y in successive rotative positions 'of the distributor.

- bottom surface of the distributor is otherwise imperforate.

with oneanothen The second pair of passages at the ported plate member 22 consists oftheY passages 38 and Y 39, which communicate respectively with'the separate chambers 32 and 33 in the bodyY and which are separated from YHuidV communication -inthe body with one another by thecvliamber walls 34vand 35. Y Y sages at-the plate member 22 consists of the passage 41 leading -iritov the body` chamber 33 and the passage 43 j formed. by the open upper end of the pipe 44 which extends do'wn-th'rough the body chamber 33 and is sealed tothe bottom of the body as shown at V45 inFig. 2.

Y VThe pipe .44is'eparatiesithe passages of this thirdpair from uid communication in the body with one another; The fourth pair of passages at the plate-member 22 consistsv of thepa'ssages V42 and 36, whichcommunicate respec-V tively-with the-body chambers V33 and 32 and which are separated from fluid communication in the body another by thechamber Vwalls .34 and 35. s

A central passage 46 in thevplate member 22 communiwith one cateswith aV chamberv 47 defined-by thierwalls 24 of the body.- Disposed above the-upper side of the plate member 22 is a gasket 48 of rubber or other suitable resilient gasketl material 'connected to the plate member 22k and provided with openings -therethrough Y corresponding inY shape-and Vsize* with the above-described passages in the plate member 22.

Each of the vpassages 38 and 42 is provided with a ow restricting or 'throttling valveV of identical construction, each comprising a thimble 49 threaded into the passage in Vthe plate member 22 and depending into the chamber beneath. V'The thimble is open at its lower end and The third pair of pas- Y 4: slots 73 in the sleeve 68 to these parts. upper side of the distributor and has a gasket 74 cooperating therewith to control flow between the chamber 64 and provide lost motion between the transfer passage 65 through ya plurality of passages 75. An O-ringV seal 70 is disposed between Vthe stern 67 andV sleeve 68 of auxiliary valve 69 adjacentV the upperY end of the sleeve to prevent leakage along the interface. l

The stem carries a collar 76 attached thereto below the supporting flange 66 and passes through a guide 77 disposed in the port 46; The stem'extendsV into the cham- Y v ber 47 and carries an auxiliary valve disk 79 of substantially smaller dimensions than the chamber adapted in the upward movement Vof the stem to engage against the bottom of arvalve ring 81-,-snuglyreceived in chamber 47,Vv to close the central opening 82 in the ring and to raise' the ring free of supporting lugs 83 attached to side walls e 24 and projecting into the chamber 47, to support the ring in the lower position of the stem.l

The'diaphragm i8, which has itsv perimeter clamped in a uid tight manner between'rangesz14 and .16 forms with associated parts the upper wall of chamber 64 and the lower wall of a pressure chamber 60, and has a-c'en-V tral opening, for the passage'of stem 67.V The stem is attached to the diaphragm by means of a pairiof elalnp-` ing plates 84, the jinner edge .ofthe diaphi'agmjbeing clamped between the plates by action of lbolts 8S-which draw the outer edges ofthe plates together to compress the Vdiaphragm Vtherebetween in iluid tight fashion.Y A

in the embodiment shown has four slots as indicated'at 51v extending upwardly from its bottom edge. A plunger Y 52 ts within theY thimble and is mounted on a stem 53 projecting downwardlyY through the chamber and through a` boss 54.Y The lower end of the stem ris threaded and passes through the-threaded bore of a cap 55 secured against the boss54 by screws 56, the stem carrying a jam nut 57v for locking the stem in adjusted position. A slot 58 at'the end ofthe stem is adapted to receive a tool for rotatingvthe stem to Yadjust the position of the plunger 52 Vin the thimble and thereby determine the area of slotsSl through which ilow may occur between the bottom chamber'and the-passages 38 or 42.'.Y

The distributor-housing 11 has an inlet pipe connection 59`provided with the usual pipe Yiange 61- forcenneotion into Va supply line'of a system of piping inthe usual-manner. Disposed within the housing is a distributo1'7plate762V having a substantially at lower face adapted to seat on'the'gasket 48 and-to control'the fluid flow through the passages in the plate member 22. As best shownin'FigL V4, the distributor has an open passage 63 extending therethrough on substantially the same radius as the passages in the plate vmember to permit communicertain ofthe passages in the-plate member in the various rotative'gpositions; of the distributor and has a transferY passage 65 registering at one end at all times with the central passage 46 andselectively registrable at its other end with certain passagesof the'plate member to establish communicationV therebetween in the various positions ofthe distributor. Auxiliary passages 32h, 32e and 32d extend throughy the distributor and are positioned to regis ter successively with the passage formed Yby the upper end' of the pipe 32a extending through the body chamber 32 The According to the present invention there is centrally-disposedon Vthe distributor a supporting ange 66 for connecting'the distributor to a centrally disposed stem 67, a sleeve 68 of an auxiliary valve disk 69 being interposedV between the ange and the stem. The dism'butor'is atv tached to the stem by-a pin 71 threaded into the. distribu-V tor andv passing through a slot 72 in the st em to provide lost motion therebetween, the pin also passing througlr- 5 cation between the chamber 64 withln the housing 11 and 5 spacer plate 86 is disposed between the clamping plates Y for obvious reasons. The' stem carries an externally threaded sleeve 87 within which the stem is capable of:Y Yrotatiom-the clamping plates and spacer having a central` Y opeainglfor the reception of the sleeve so that the clamping'assembly seats against a rshoulder 8S on the sleeve and is held thereag'ainst by a nut89 threaded Vontotlie sleeve t and bearing against the upper side of Ythe clamping Vassenibly. The nut is held against rotation by a lock screw 91 engaging the clampingassembly.Y VVA jsplit ring 92 is disposed YinY adjoining recessesk in the stem and sleeve andVV bears'the end thrust occasioned by lifting of the stern and' -ange portion'96 secured against the mounting flange g 94 by cap screws 97 with v'da gasket interposed therebetween for sealing purposes and a cam portion 98 Vdisposed within the camhousing-95.' 1 The cam member carries an OV-ring'seal 99 to seal theinterface along-the shaft'. An

upper cam memberrrhas a flange portion 101V secured' u across therupper end of the cam housing and a depending cam portion 102`disposed in spaced relation to the lower cam Vportion 98 for the reception therebetween'of fol-k lowers in the form of projecting ends .of a pin' 103l secured in the stem.V VVThe sternV projects above the ilange portion 101 in the seated posin'on of the valve and the projecting end is'enclosed by a cap V104 4secured to the flange portion and extending upwardly a distanceV sufficient to` Y permit-rising of Ythestem.V Communicating with 'the chamber 60 denedby the diaphragm and the coverf15 is s Y an inlet connection 105 Vof relatively small size andan outletconnection 106 of V'substantially larger siz'eethan the'y Y inlet connectionhaving apilot valve 107 forY controlling theoutlet ow fromv the chamber 60.

.'An extension rod 160 'is connected to the upper end of valve stem 67 and projects up through the flat top wall' 104:1 of thecapf 104:5 As best seen in Figs. 1 and?, this extension rod carries a pointer 161V which overlies indicia 17692 arried on the upperfaceof the top (wall 104a-offcap Y The valve disk 69 overlies a portion of the 21 is centrally mounted on fthe with the valve stem 67 and to coact with the indicia on stationary cap 104 to indicate the rotative setting of the distributor 62 in the valve.

The above-described control valve is shown in Fig. 1, by way of illustrating one use thereof, as part of control apparatus for a conventional base exchange water treating tank. An untreated water inlet 121 has a branch conduit 122 connected to the inlet pipe 59 for passing raw water into the chamber 64 in the valve. The raw water inlet 121 is also connected to the pipe 105 for passing raw water continuously into the pressure chamber 6i) in the valve above the diaphragm 18. The outlet conduit 166 from this pressure chamber is connected through valve 197 to a conduit 123 leading to drain.

The pipe 44 extending down through the chamber 33 in the control valve has its lower end connected to a conduit129 leading to the inlet of an ejector 13d. This ejector also is connected to a brine inlet pipe 131 in the conventional manner, such that the flow of water from pipe 129 through ejector 139 draws brine from pipe 131 up through the outlet pipe 132 from the ejector to a distributor pipe 133 located at the top of the treatment tank 125 above the bed of base exchange material therein.

The pipe connection 27 leading from the chamber 32 in the lift turn valve is connected to a conduit 124 leading to the top of the treatment tank 125. From the bottom of the treatment tank, below `the bed of base exchange material therein, there is provided a conduit 126 leading to a T-coupling 127, one leg of which, 12S, is connected to the pipe coupling 28 communicating with the other chamber 33 in the control valve.

The T-coupling 127 also has an outlet arm 134 connected to the inlet pipe connection 135 for a pressure responsive auxiliary service valve, indicated generally at 136, which controis the flow in the service line 137. As best seen in Fig. 7, the inlet pipe connection 135 defines an inlet passage 133 leading to a valve chamber 139 in the service valve which extends perpendicular to the inlet passage, an annular flat valve seat 1411 being formed at the juncture between the inlet passage 138 and the valve chamber 139. An outlet passage 139:1 leads from the valve chamber 139 to the service pipe 137.

For controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet passage 138 into the valve chamber 139 there is provided the slidable valve 141 located in the valve chamber 139 and having a frusto-conical face 142 for engagement with the valve seat 14d. rl`he valve 141 carries a plurality of spaced forwardly protruding ngers 143 which are snugly, yet slidably, received in the inlet passage 133 for guiding the movement of valve 141 toward and away from the valve seat 14d. The valve 1011 is carried by a stem 144 extending slidably through a bushing 1415 threadedly mounted in a closure plate 146 bolted to an internal annular shoulder 147 formed in the housing of valve 136 in spaced relation from the valve seat 141i. At its outer end the stem 144;l is threadedly connected to a diaphragm plate 143 attached to one face of a llexible, resilient diaphragm 149 of rubber or the like. The diaphragm 149 is clamped at its periphery between a iiange 150 on the housing of valve 136 and a flange 151 of the generally cup-shaped cover cap 152. From Fig. 7 it will be apparent that the middle of the diaphragm is free to move back and forth between the cover cap 152 and the closure plate 1416 for moving the valve 141 correspondingly. The cover cap 152 carries a nipple 153 to which s connected a pipe d leading to the above-described pipe 32a extending up through the body chamber 32 in the control valve. Thus, when fluid under pressure is supplied from the control valve through pipe 154 to the cover cap 152, it forces the diaphragm 149 to the right in Fig. 7 to close valve 141 and thereby block the ilovv of treated water from the bottom of softener tank 125 to the service line 137. When the huid pressure at the cover cap 152 is relieved, the diaphragm 149. is permitted to return Vto its 6 retracted position, shown in Fig. 7, under the force of the fluid pressure in the inlet passage 138 acting against valve 141 and tending to open this valve.

Operation In the operation of the above-described control apparatus of the present invention, in the normal or service condition the distributor 62 of the control valve is positioned with its passage 63 registering with the passage 37 in the inner plate member 22 and with the transfer passage 65 registering with the open upper end of the pipe 32a communicating with the back side of the diaphragm 149 of the auxiliary service valve 136. With the distributor seated in confronting relation with this inner plate member, raw water from conduit 122 passes into the distributor chamber 64 in the valve and thence down through distributor passage 63 and the registering passage 37 at the plate member 22 into the chamber 32 in the body, from which it passes through conduit 124 to the top of the treatment tank 125. After passing down through the base exchange material in the treatment tank, the water passes from the bottom of the tank through pipe 126 and thence through T-coupling 127 and service valve 136 to the service line 137. At this time the iluid pressure at the back side of the diaphragm 149, which controls the valve elem-ent 141 in service valve 136, is relieved to drain through pipes 154 and 32a and the transfer passage 65 in the distributor of the control valve. This pressure relief at the back side of the diaphragm permits the fluid pressure in the inlet passage 13S of the auxiliary service valve to move the valve element 141 away from its seat 141i, to permit the flow of eiiiuent to the service line 137.

To shift the distributor of the valve to its next position the pilot valve 1417 is opened to establish communication between the pressure chamber and drain to allow the uid to drain from this chamber and the pressure therein to fall to a point substantially below that in charnber 64. The difference in pressure between the two chambers causes the diaphragm 18 to move upward until the nut 39 engages the flange portion 96, bringing the stem 67 upwardly to the same extent by action of sleeve 87 on ring 92.

During the initial part of the upward movement of the stem the slot 72 permits the stem to move with respect to the pin 71 so that the valve plate 79 engages the valve ring 31, closing the central opening 82 and terminating communication between drain passage 46 and the drain connection. Upon further upward movement of the stern, the plate 79 raises the ring 81 from lugs 83 as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 to maintain the drain line 47 closed. With continued upward movement of the stem the collar 76 engages the lower end of the sleeve 68 causing the sleeve and valve disk 69 to move upwardly in the supporting flange 66, the slots 73 permitting such relative movement. r1`his moves the disk upwardly away from the distributor and opens communication between the passage and the chamber 64 through openings 75 as shown 'in Fig. 6, allowino the hydraulic pressure within the drain passage to become substantially equal to that in the chamber 64. When the stem brings the collar 76 against the lower end of supporting ange 65, continued upward movement of the stem raises the lower face of the distributor free or substantially free of the gasket 4S.

Referring now to Fig. 3, during the upward movement of the stem just described the ends of the cam follower pin 163 move vertically upward between parallel faces 108 at diametrically opposite sides of the lower cam 98. At the point in the upward movement of the stem at which the distributor is substantially free of the gasket the ends of the cam follower pin come into engagement with helically disposed faces 109 of the upper cam 102 and, with continued upward movement of the stem, slide along these faces to rotate the stem and, through the pin 71,

\ rotate the distributor through 45 degrees, afterwinch:th'efY camrpirn Venters between, parallelfaces 111'iof the uppe Cam. Y t

When the control-valve 107 isfclosed, 'fluid entering pressure chamber 60 through connection 105 causes. the

pressure to build up toa pointequal or exceeding that in chamber` 64, whereupon the diaphragm and stem move Y down. During downward movement therends of the cam follower. pin 103 first move'down between lthe parallel faces 111 of 'the upper cam until theyrcontact helical faces112'of .the lower cam and they then slide along these faces, rotating 45 degrees, until they reach the succeeding pairs of parallel faces S Vof the lower 0am. Y At this point jin the downward or reseating movementV of the V` stem, the distributor has been turned through 90 degrees.

As the `stem continues its downward movement the distributor contacts the gasket 4S overlying the plate-rnember 22,` and the collar 76 movesaway from the end vof Y support ange.66, allowing valve Vdisk 69 to reseat on the top ofthe distributor.V Subsequently, the valve 'ring Slengages the lugs 83 and thevalverplate 79 moves away Y from the ring to reopen the drain and bring the distributor to the next seated position, with Vthe open distributor passage 63 in registration with passage 39 in the plate member 22, the distributor transfer passage 65 in registration with passage 38, and the distributor passage 32h,

registering with the open upper end ofV pipe 32a, bringing the parts to theposition shown in Fig. 6. Y Y

In this position of the distributor, raw Water at theV distributor chamber 64 flows down through distributor Vpassage 32b into pipe'32aY and thence through conduit 154-to the back side of the diaphragm 149 at the service valve 136. Theuid pressure against this ydiaphragm causes it to move the valve element 141 closed. Also,

water :from chamberf64'ows down through Ydistributor Y treatment tank through'conduit 124 and pipe connectionY 27 into the chamber 32 in the valve. Fromvhere the In thev final, orY rinse, position ofv the distributor, the

distributor passage 63 registers with the :passage 36in the plate ymember 22, YVthe distributor passage 32dl registers with the open upper end of pipe 32a, and' the distributor Vtransfer passage 65 registers'with the passage `42. At this distributor position, raw'waterfpasses'down Vthrough distributor passage 32d into pipe 32a andthence through conduit 154 to the backside ofthe diaphragmatthe service valver136 toV maintain this valve closed. Also, i water passesV down through distributor passagejtand' theregistering passageq36 at the plate member'ZZV into 33 inthe `valve. Y From here the rinse eluentpas'sesup throughk passage 42 at the plate member 22into theY dis backwash euent passes up through the passage 38 in the plate member 22 to the transfer passage 65 in the distributor leading to drain. The adjustment lof the throttling valve`52 at passage 38 determines the flow Yeind of the pipe V32a in thebordy, and the distributor transfer passage ''regist'ers with the passage 41 in the plateV Y member 22. Y At this position of the distributor, raw water from' the chamber 64 flows down through distributorV passage 32e Yinto pipeV 32a *andV thenceV through conduit 154 to the back Vside of the diaphragm 149 at the service line valve 136 to maintain this valve closed. Also, water from the chamber 64 passes down through distributor passage 63'into pipe 44 and'thencerthrough conduit v129,'[0

the'ejector 13b, where it Ydraws reagent through the line 131 up through conduitY 132 toV the,v perforated distributor pipe133 attheY top of the treatment tank. After owing down through the base exchange materialrin the tank to regenerate the same, the eiuent is passed from the bottom ofthe tankY Vthrough Vconduit 126, T-coupling 127 and pipe: fitting 2,8V into the chamber 33 in the valve. From Vhere the effluent passes up through the passage 41 at the plate member 22 into the distributor transfer passage 65 and thence kto drain. Obviously, the nozzle in the ejector 130 determines the ow rate through theta'nk in the'injectionstep.V L Y v t i tributor.

tributor transfer passage 65 and Vthence to drain; f'lhek Y adjustment of the throttling valve at the passage42 inthe Y valve determines the flow rate through the treatmentftank Y Yin therrinse step. Y i i* Obviously, each time-the distributor 62 isfunseatedwater is free to iiowV from Vthe chamber 64 into the open upper end of'pipe 32aV at the plate member 22 to applyY pressure lagainst the .back side of diaphragmf'149 vfor moving the valve element 141 ofthese'rvice valve 136 j to closed position or maintaining this valve closed, Vast-he4 case may be. Y l Y A gv From the foregoing itwill be seen that eachA of the passages at the platemember 22 passesjonly oneow during the com-plete. cycle of rotative settingsofthe dis# passages may be constructed for ,optimum` ow characteristics for the particular flow which each's required to l pass, without the necessityof Vcomproniising Vthe 'construction of any of these'portswfor 'accommodating'several different flows therethrough. It has been foundthat this novel construction enables Vthe control apparatusaof 1 the'present invention to handle substantially greater ow rates with a much lowerk pressure loss inthe' valveth'anY Vheretofore possible for agiven size of the valve.

A WhileV in the foregoing description and in the Vaccompanying drawings there is disclosed a specic preferred Vembodiment of the Vpresent nvention,'it is Vto be understood that various modiiications omissions V and'renefV Yments departing froml the disclosedvfo'rmY of the inyen'"V tion'may be resorted to Without Vdeparting from the spiritA and scope of this invention. Y

I claim: f

V1. A valve comprising; in"combination,VV a Vplaternem- Y ber provided with a plurality ofpassages"therethrough,-Y one of saidpassages being a drain passage. loeatedcen`- trally at said plate member, V said passages at the plate' member including a plurality of spaced pairs of passages, the passages of VVeach pair beingj'positioned next to-on'e t another, partition Vmeans separating eachV passage of'e'a'ch ing a first passage extending through theV distributor mem` ber and positioned to register with a preselected'passage,V l

of each pair of passages at the plate member in each 'of a plurality of rotative Vpositit'ms of the distributor member, said distributor member'having,an'openingdisposed next to said first` distributor member passage to .registerv with the other passage ofr each pair of passages/at Athe plate 'member'in Vthe respective'rotatiye positions ofsthe.

This is of particular ,advantage because these distributor member, means defining a central opening in the distributor member registering with .the drain passage at the plate member in all rotative positions of the diS- tributor member, and a transfer passage communicating between said openings in the distributor member for passing to drain the fluid ilowing through said transfer passage from the other passage of each respective pair of passages at the plate member in the respective rotative `positions of the distributor member.

2. The valve of claim l, wherein there is provided means for successively turning the distributor member from one rotative position to the next to shift said distributor passages from registration with one pair of passages at the plate member into registration with the next pair of passages at the plate member so that each passage of said pairs of passages at the plate member passes only one iiow during the positioning of the distributor member at its successive rotative positions.

3. A valve comprising, in combination, a plate member provided with a drain passage and a plurality of spaced pairs of passages, the passages of each pair being positioned next to one another, wails separating each passage of each pair from fluid communication at the plate member with the other passage of the same pair and from fluid communication at the plate member with said drain passage, a distributor mounted in confronting relation with the plate member and mounted to be turned to a plurality of rotative settings, said distributor having a first passage extending therethrough positioned to register with a preselected passage of each pair of passages at the plate member in each of a plurality of rotative settings of the distributor, said distributor having an opening disposed next to said first distributor passage to regis` ter with the other passage of each pair of passages at the plate member in the respective rotative settings of the distributor, said distributor also having an opening positioned to register with said drain passage at the plate member in each rotative setting of the distributor, and said distributor having a transfer passage communicating between said openings for passing to drain the uid flowing from the other passage of each respective pair of passages at the plate member in the respective rotative settings of the distributor.

4. In a uid distribution device for Water treatment apparatus, the combination of a plate member having a plurality of separate passages therethrough, uid conduits at one side of said plate member for passing separate flows to and from said passages thereat, the passages at the plate member including a ycentral drain passage and a plurality of pairs of passages, each passage of each pair of passages at the plate member being separated from fluid communication with the other passage of the same pair at the plate member and at said liuid conduits, means defining a uid chamber at the opposite side of said plate member, a distributor mounted in said chamber for movement to preselected dilerent rotative positions in confronting relation with said plate member to establish different flows through the plate member, said distributor having a first passage extending therethrough located to register with a preselected passage of each of said pairs of passages at the plate member in the different rotative positions of the distributor for passing lluid from said fiuid chamber through said preselected passages of each pair at the plate member in succession as the distributor is turned successively to its different rotative positions, said distributor having a transfer passage positioned at one end in confronting relation with said central drain passage at the plate member in each rotative position of the distributor and at its other end located to register selectively with the other passage of each of said pairs of passages at the plate member in the different rotative positions of the distributor to pass to drain the iluid from said other passage of each pair at the plate member in succession as the distributor is turned successively to its different rotative positions.

5. Alcontrol valvecomprising a stationary plate member having a central rpassage therethrough yanda plurality of annularly spaced passages disposed around the central passage, a first conduit means communicating with at least three of the annularly spaced passages at said plate member, a second conduit Ameans communicating with at least another three of the annularly spaced passages at said plate member, a fluid supply chamber connected to a source of fluid supply 4disposed across one face of the plate member for communication with said annularly spaced passages, a movable distributor member within the fluid supply chamber disposed across the plate member and having a passage therethrough positioned to register with one of said annularly spaced passages in each position of the distributor member and to block communication between the supply chamber and the other annularly spaced passages and between the supply chamber and the central passage, a transfer passage in the movable distributor member for establishing communication between the central passage and one of the annularly spaced passages in all but one position ofthe vdistributor member, and means for rotating the distributor member between various operative rotative positions.

6. A control valve comprising a 'lift turn valve including a plate member having a plurality of passages therein, a first conduit communicating with some of said passages and a second conduit communicating with others of said passages, said plate member having a passage separated from communication with said conduits, a housing attached to said plate member and providing a fluid supply chamber at one side thereof, and a distributor in said chamber mounted to be seated in confronting relation with said plate member and to be lifted away from said plate member, turned to one of a plurality of preselected rotative positions with respect to said plate member, and reseated in confronting relation with said plate member for establishing different ows through the valve, a fluid pressure responsive valve communicating with one of said conduits and controlling flow therefrom to a service line, and a conduit extending between said pressure responsive valve and said last-mentioned passage at the plate member, said distributor of the lift turn Valve having a plurality of passages positioned respectivelyto register with said last-mentioned passage at the plate member at all but one of said preselected rotative positions of the distributor for passing fluid from said chamber in the lift turn valve to said pressure responsive valve to close the pressure responsive valve, and said distributor when unseated uncovering said last-mentioned passage at the plate member for passing iluid from said chamber in the lift turn valve to said pressure responsive valve to close the pressure responsive valve.

7. A multiport valve comprising, in combination, a plate member having a plurality of passages, one of said passages being a low pressure passage, a distributor cooperable with the plate member and having a plurality of passages adapted for different registration with the passages at the plate member in diderent rotative positions of the distributor, a housing member attached to the plate member and forming a fluid chamber in which the distributor is located, one of said members having a supply port normally communicating with said iiuid chamber in the housing member to supply duid under pressure to the valve, a stem having a longitudinal lostmotion connection to the distributor and rotatable to turn the distributor between different operative positions, and an auxiliary valve for controlling now through the low pressure passage at the plate member, said auxiliary valve comprising means dening a tubular passage cornmunicating with said low pressure passage, a ring snugly yet slidably received in said tubular passage and having a central opening for the flow of fluid therethrough, means for supporting the ring in said tubular passage, and a valve disk attached to the stem and positioned upon movement of the stem in one direction to engage thecring and Y 11 cover the central openingtherethrough to close said tubular passage before the stem turns the distributor and upon` return movementof the stem in the opposite direction tor uncover theV central `oprening'through the ring to `reopen-said Ytubular passage after the distributorl has been turned to its Vnext rotative, position. I t Y 8. A'lift turn valve comprising,in combination, a plate member provided with a plurality of passages, 'one of said passages being a lowpressure passage, means deninga iiuid supply chamber at one sideV ofrsaid :plate member, a distributor in said chamber mounted to be positioned in confronting'relation Vwith said plate member andradapted to be unseated away from said plate member, turned, and reseated in confronting relation with said plate member for establishing different ilows through the Vvalve in diferentrotative'positions of the distributor, a stem having a longitudinal lost-motion connection to the distributor'for unseatingy the distributor upon movement of the stem longitudinally in one direction and rotatable Y to turn the distributor after unseating the same, said stem being movable longitudinally in the opposite direction for reseating thetdistributor, and an auxiliary valve con- Y lof the platemember, said distributor havingairstY-pas- Vsage extending throughthe distributor for passing kfluid fromrthe supply chamber therethrough'and positioned Yto trolling Aflow through the low pressure passage at the plate member, said lauxiliary valve comprising means defining a tubular passage communicating with the low Y pressure passage, a ring snugly yet slidably received in vsaid tubular passage and having a central opening fortthe tlow of uid therethrough, means for supporting the ring Y the ring to its support upon return movement of the stem in said opposite direction and thereafter to uncover the central opening through the ring to reopen said tubular passagevupon continued movement of the Vstem in said opposite direction after the distributor is reseated.

9. A lift turn valve comprising, in combination, a plate member provided with a plurality of passages, one of said passages being a low pressure passage located centrally at said plate member, means extending downwardlyV from said low pressure passage and defining aY drain pas'- sage communicating therewith, a ring having a central opening therethrough snugly yet slidably Vreceived in ksaid ,t drain passage, means projecting into said .drainjpassage limiting downward movement of the 'ring therein, adis- -tributor mounted above said plate member to bepositionedin confronting relation therewith and mounted'to Y be lifted away from said plate member, turned, and moved downwardY to reseat in confronting relation with said plate member for establishing different flows through'the valve at different rotative positions of the distributor, a Yhousing mounted above said plate member andV forming ing relation with said platetmember for establishing difa fluid supply chamber for theY distributor, a stem for moving the distributor having a longitudinal lostemotion Y' connection yto the distributor for unseating and subsequently reseating the distributor'and rotatable to turn the distributor after unseating it, said stem extending downward below the Vdistributor intotsaid drain passage, and `a valve diskV connected to the lower end of said stem be-V neath-said ring and positioned to engage the underside of the ring to cover the central opening therethrough to close said drain passage upon initial movement of the stem upwardly away from said ring movement limiting means in the drainpassage before the distributor is unseated and upon continued upward movement of the stem to slide the ring rupward in said drain passage to maintain'tsaidV passage closed and uponA downward movement of* the' Ystem to move downwardly to permit the ring to return to said ring Vmovement'limiting means in' `the id'rain` passage and following the reseating of "the, distributor :t0

move downwardly below thepring to `uncover the central opening therethroughto reopen the drain Vpassage.'V

t 10." A'control valve comprising a plate member pro vided Y:with a cential drain passage and a plurality of Vspaced pairs of passages, the passages of each pair beingV t located next to one"another, walls at one side of the vplate Y 'member separating eachipassage of each pair from fluidKV v Y communication at the plate member with the other passage of ,thersame pair, al distributor mounted in confrontmg relation with rsaid plate member'for establishing dif,-

ferentows through the valve'inrdilerent rotat'ivesettings:V Y j Yof the distributor, a fluid supply chamber onfthe other side register with a preselected passage of Veach pair -ofepas- 'sages at said plate member in .each of a plurality of rotative settings of the distributor, said distributor having'an opening Vdisposed next to'said first-mentioned passage in ,Y the distributor to register with the othery passage of each pair of passages at said plate Ymember inthe respective rotative settings of the distributor, said distributor havingV another opening registering with the drain passag'evin said plate member in all rotative settings of the distributor, a transfer passage in said distributor communicating` be'- tween saidV openings in theY distributor for passingto drain Y the duid flowing therethrough from the other passage -o'f each respective pair of passages at the plate member in the respective rotative settings of theV distributor, a first t conduitl communicating at said plate member with a plurality of said preselected passages of each pair of Vpassages in said plate member, and a second .conduit commut j nicating at said plate member with a plurality ofsaid other y passages of each pair of passages in said plate member. ll. A controlvalve comprising a plate member provided with a centraltdrain passage and a plurality 1of spaced pairs of passages, the' passages of each pair being located nextto one another, walls at one side ofthe plateY member separating each passage of each pair fromuidcommunication Vat the plate member with the other passage of the same pair, a distributor mounted in confront-V ferent ows through the valve indilerent rotative settings of the distributor, a uid supply chamber on'the other side of the plate member, said distributor having a rsrt passage extending through'the distributor for passing fluid t from the supply chamber therethrough and positionedito register with a preselected Ypassage'of each pair ofpassagesat said vplate Vmemberinl each of applurality ofrotative settings of the distributor, Vsaid distributor havingan opening disposed next to said iirst-mentioned pas'sagein` thef distributor to register with the otherpass'a'geof each pair of passages at said plate Vmember inthe respective v rotativesettingsof the distributor, said distributor'havingY another opening registering with the drainpassage in said Y,

plate member in all rotative/settingsV of the distributor, a transfer; passage in said distributor communicating b`etween said openings in the distributor for passing toV drain the fluid flowing 'therethrough' from the otherV passageconduit extending from saidother passage of one; ofsaidy pairs of passages at the plate' member of the control valve, said distributor of the control valve having a plurality of auxiliary openings extending therethrough 'and positioned to register` with said last-mentionedV other Vpassage for passing liuid to said pressure responsivetvalve toVY close thek Y pressure responsive valve in all but one rotative position of the distributor, said distributor in its other rotative setting positioning said transfer passage in registration with said last-mentioned other passage in the plate member for passing to drain said fluid at the pressure responsive valve and permit the pressure responsive valve to open.

12. A control valve comprising a plate member having a plurality of annularly spaced passages therein, a casing including a bottom wall and an upstanding side Wall extending around said bottom wall and attached to said plate member to define a chamber on one side of said plate member, partition means extending across said chamber and separating the latter into separate compartments, one of said compartments communicating at said plate member with a first group of said passages and the other of said compartments communicating at said plate member with a second group of said passages, a pipe extending through said bottom wall and through said one of said compartments and communicating at said plate member with one of said passages in said lirst group of passages to separate the latter from communication with said one compartment, a distributor adapted to be seated in confronting relation with the other side of said plate member and turned between different rotative settings to establish different flows through said passages, and first and second conduits attached to said casing and communicating with said first and second compartments respectively.

13. A control valve comprising a plate member having a plurality of annularly spaced passages and a central passage therein, a casing including a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall extending around said bottom wall and secured to said plate member to define a chamber at one side of said plate member, a first pipe extending through said bottom Wall and communicating at said plate member with said central passage to separate the latter from communication with said chamber, partition means extending between said first pipe and said casing and dividing said chamber into a plurality of separate compartments, a second pipe extending through said bottom wall fand through one of said compartments and communicating at said plate member with one of said annularly spaced passages to separate the latter from communication with said one of said compartments, a plurality of conduits attached to said Wall means and each communicating with one of said compartments, and a distributor adapted to be seated in confronting relation with the other side of said plate member and turned between different rotative settings to establish different flows through said passages.

14. A control Valve comprising a plate member having a plurality of separate passages therein, a first conduit communicating at said plate member with a first group of said passages, the second conduit communicating at said plate member with a second group of said passages different from said first group, a housing attached to said plate member and providing a supply chamber lat one side thereof, a discharge conduit communicating at said plate member with another of said passages different from said first and second groups of passages, and a distributor in said supply chamber mounted to be seated in confronting relation with said plate member and to be turned to different rotative settings in confronting relation with said plate member, said distributor having a first port therein communicating with the supply chamber in each rotative setting of the distributor arranged to establish flow from said supply chamber through one of said passages in one of said groups of passages in the plate member and having a second port therein communicating with the discharge conduit in each rotative setting of the distributor arranged to establish flow from one of the passages in the other group of passages and through said discharge conduit, inV

the different angular settings of the distributor, said distributor providing fluid communication respectively through each respective passage at the plate member only at a particular respective angular setting of the distributor and blocking each respective passage at the plate member at other angular settings of the distributor except said respective angular settings, so that Water ows through each passage at the plate member only once during a complete sequence of angular settings of the distributor for a complete cycle of operation of the control valve.

15. A control Valve comprising a plate member having a plurality of separate passages therein, a tirst conduit communicating at said plate member with a tirst group of said passages, the second conduit communicating at said plate member with a second group of said passages different from said first group, a housing attached to said plate member and providing a supply chamber at one side thereof, a discharge conduit communicating at said plate member with another of the passages therein different from said rst and second groups of passages, a distributor in said supply chamber mounted to be seated in confronting relation with said plate member and to be turned to different rotative settings in confronting relation with said plate member, said distributor having 'a first port therein communicating with the supply chamber in each rotative setting of the distributor arranged to establish ow from said supply chamber through one of said passages in one of said groups of passages in the plate member and having a second port therein communicating with the discharge conduit in each rotative setting of the distributor arranged to establish flow from one of the passages in the other group of passages and through said discharge conduit, in the dierent angular settings of the distributor, said distributor providing fluid communication respectively through each respective passage at the plate member only at a particular respective angular setting of the distributor and blocking each respective passage at the plate member at other angular settings of the distributor except said respective angular settings, so that Water flows through each passage at the plate member only once `during a complete sequence of angular settings of the distributor for a complete cycle of operation of the control valve, valve means controlling the flow through said discharge conduit, and means for closing said valve means while said distributor is being turned between the angular settings thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 623,873 Borden Apr. 25, 1899 2,047,131 Riche July 7, 1936 2,051,155 Staegemann Aug. 18, 1936 2,093,692 Daniels Sept. 21, 1937 2,235,287 Daniels Mar. 18, 1941 2,504,816 DeVille Apr. 18, 1950 2,679,376 Steiner May 25, 1954 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE l y PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NOD 2,825,363 March w 1958 Paul Go Bird It 's hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Let sers Patent should read as corrected below.

Column lO, line 24,' for "A control Valve comprising" reed n In a fluid treatment system,

Signed and sealed this '20th day of May 1958o (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H; AXLINE i ROBERT C. wATsoN Attesting Officer Comissioner of Patents 

